Philadelphia: where ever she is, in whatever epoch of the Age of Grace
she is part of the elite company of elect believers
She is ‘rapture-ready’; her lamps are lit and filled with oil
She takes serious all the advice of her espoused husband
to be PREPARED - for His sudden appearing.
The Church of Philadelphia
Church of BROThERLY LOVE
This article covers the church at Philadelphia to see how it relates to the current condition of the church, as well as to look at it on a personal level to see how it applies to the individual believer and how it relates to the Olivet Discourse and the coming Rapture of faithful espoused brides in Christ.
The ancient city of Philadelphia is located some thirty miles southeast of Sardis in Lydia, was founded in the second century BC, by Attalus Philadelphus and was so named to commemorate the brotherly love that existed between him and Eumenes. A terrible earthquake that destroyed Sardis in A.D. 17 also devastated Philadelphia. The Roman emperor, Tiberius remitted taxation for the period of rebuilding and in return the citizens of Philadelphian changed its named to Neo-Ceasarea meaning "New Town of Caesar", but it was later changed back to Philadelphia. Despite the spread of Islam across Asia Minor the city has remained steadfastly Christian to this day.
In the scheme of church history, Philadelphia along with Laodicea, the last of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, represents the church of the current age. Philadelphia is the invisible church, the weak church with little or no worldly strength. It is the only church besides the church at Smyrna that the Lord does not have a rebuke for. Why? Let's find out.
In His greeting to the Philadelphians, the Lord writes that He is holy, He is true and that He has the key of David which no man can open or no man can shut. What is this key of David? David is the only king of Israel whose heart was after God's own heart as we see in Acts 13:22 & 23; "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.
It was through David's seed that all the promises of Israel came - namely, Jesus the Messiah. Indeed, the Lord opened the door for David to be king of Israel for he was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons. After seven of the sons were brought before Samuel, who had orders from the Lord to go to Jesse's house, for from among his sons a king was to be chosen, the Lord said unto him "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature: because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7) Asked if there were any more sons, Jesse said yes, the youngest who keeps the sheep in the fields. David was retched from the field and when Samuel looked upon him the Lord said to him, "Arise, anoint him: for this is he." And the Scriptures say that the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. David He chose and David it was.
His is a familiar story to students of the Scriptures, I know, but I relate it here to show the parallel between David and the Philadelphia Church. David is the least of his brothers, the most unlikely to be the future king of Israel, but God saw his heart and chose him over all the others. Likewise the Lord acknowledges the church of Philadelphia, the weakest one, for their works and the fact that they have not denied His name and have kept His word.
The difference between the last two churches addressed in Revelation and the first five is that they are churches representing current day churches. True, they were churches that existed at the time of writing, but in our line of study remember that Philadelphia represents one of two types of churches in prominent existence today, the other being Laodicea which we will cover next month. Also keep in mind that remnants of each of the seven churches have been in existence down through the ages to this current age.
As in the letter to the church at Smyrna (the only other faultless church), the Lord refers to those who are of the "synagogue of Satan" who say they are Jews and are not, but do lie. Roman’s chapter two verses 28 & 29 tell us what a Jew is; "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
This verse is an affirmation of the Lord's reply to Samuel when he was about to anoint David king of Israel as mentioned previously.
In this letter to the Philadelphians He says he will make those of the "synagogue of Satan" to come and worship at their feet and I quote "and to know that I have loved thee." This will be quite the scenario. But who are these Jews? As explained in a previous article on the church at Smyrna, we can safely assume that these represent Christians who say they are Christians but do lie. "Ye shall know them by their fruits".
In these last days there are many who say they are Christ's and use Christ's name to perform all manner of abominations as we see in Matthew 7:21 & 22). "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Take for instance the current, popular "laughing revival" or the growth in the so called spirit-filled churches who merely use the Lord's name to have fun and party. Salvation is touched upon but repentance and holiness are rarely, if at all, preached from the pulpit. The word of God is watered down and made ineffective. The vast majority of Christianity flock to church every Sunday to be touched by the Spirit of God in some way but go away with no real victory in their lives. The fundamentals have been sorely ignored or forgotten.
Search the scriptures for yourself and ask the Lord exactly who and what the "synagogue of Satan" is comprised of. Strive to be a member of the Philadelphia church and the promises of Revelation 3:10-12 will be yours.
The Lord assures those who have kept the word of his patience that he will keep them from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the world. This refers to the rapture of the bride also spoken of in 1 Thessalonians chapter four that will take place at an hour that no man knoweth. We can surmise from the promise given here in Revelation, it will most likely occur at the beginning or during the first half of the great seven year tribulation period. A warning is then issued by the Lord that He will come quickly and to hold fast that which you have, so that no man will take your crown. No doubt this is the crown of righteousness spoken of in II Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
To the overcomer is the additional promise of being made a pillar in the temple of God. The twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles also share in this distinct honor of actually being part of God's holy dwelling place - Heavenly Jerusalem, as pictured in Rev 21:12&14. "And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.... And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
The promises don't stop there for we are also told that He will write upon the overcomer the name of his God, the name of the city of His God and His, Jesus', new name.
Don't you want to be an overcomer? Don't you want to be a pillar in the eternal city of New Jerusalem? Then follow the advice in the Scriptures when it says, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
ThePhiladelphiaFaith.org encourages each and every person having a mind to do so to follow the course of the Signs of Christ’s Return as laid out in this major section of our site, so that they may be fully vested in brideship so they will be counted worthy to ‘follow the lamb whithersoever He goeth’ for all of eternity. …
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